Electrical connection configurations for privacy glazing structures
A privacy glazing structure may include an electrically controllable optically active material that provides controlled transition between a privacy or scattering state and a visible or transmittance state. To make electrical connections with electrode layers that control the optically active material, the privacy glazing structure may include electrode engagement regions. In some examples, the electrode engagement regions are formed as notches in peripheral edges of opposed panes bounding the optically active material. The notches may or may not overlap to provide a through conduit in the region of overlap for wiring. In either case, the notches may allow the remainder of the structure to have a flush edge surface for ease of downstream processing.
1. A privacy glazing structure comprising:
a first pane of transparent material having an inner face, an outer face, and a peripheral edge;
a second pane of transparent material having an inner face, an outer face, and a peripheral edge;
a first electrode layer on the inner face of the first pane of transparent material;
a second electrode layer on the inner face of the second pane of transparent material;
an electrically controllable optically active material positioned between the first electrode layer on the inner face of the first pane of transparent material and the second electrode layer on the inner face of the second pane of transparent material;
wherein the first pane of transparent material is generally parallel to the second pane of transparent material to form a cavity therebetween containing the electrically controllable optically active material, and
the first pane of transparent material defines a notch providing access to two electrical contact portions carried by the inner face of the second pane of transparent material, a first of the two electrical contact portions being electrically connected to the first electrode layer and a second of the two electrical contact portions being electrically connected to the second electrode layer.
2. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the notch extends from the peripheral edge of the first pane toward a center of the first pane a distance less than 12 mm.
3. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the notch has a size within a range from 50 square millimeters to 400 square millimeters.
4. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the notch has a length along the peripheral edge of the first pane greater than a width extending toward a center of the first pane.
5. The structure of claim 1 , further comprising wiring extending from outside of the privacy glazing structure into the notch and electrically connecting to the first electrical contact portion and the second electrical contact portion.
6. The structure of claim 5 , wherein:
the wiring comprises a first wire connected to the first electrical contact portion and a second wire connected to the second electrical contact portion, and
the notch has a first open end through the outer face of the first pane, and
the first wire and the second wire both enter the notch through the first open end.
7. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the notch has a curved shape extending from the peripheral edge of the first pane toward a center of the first pane.
8. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the notch is defined by wall surfaces of the first pane that slope at a non-zero degree angle from the outer face to the inner face.
9. The structure of claim 1 , further comprising a cover material filling the notch.
10. The structure of claim 9 , wherein the cover material is elected from the group consisting of a polymeric sealant, a polymeric film, a rigid plate, and combinations thereof.
11. The structure of claim 10 , wherein the cover material comprises a rigid plate formed for glass having a footprint mirroring the notch.
12. The structure of claim 1 , further comprising a conductive crossover member electrically connecting the first of the two electrical contact portions carried by the inner face of the second pane of transparent material to the first electrode layer on the inner face of the first pane of transparent material.
13. The structure of claim 12 , wherein the conductive crossover member is at least one of a conductive layer and a wire.
14. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the two electrical contact portions each comprise an electrical contact pad.
15. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the two electrical contact portions are electrically isolated from each other.
16. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the two electrical contact portions are electrically isolated from each other by an electrical isolation perimeter extending around one of the two electrical contact portions.